Views from the Choir Loft

For the Carol Enthusiasts

Veronica Brandt · November 22, 2014

APPY ST CECILIA’S DAY! I hope the day brings you much cake and song. Enjoy Aurelio’s tour of the Church of St Cecilia with Sister Margaret.

Today I thought I’d talk about books of Christmas carols. I’ve mentioned websites like Hymns and Carols of Christmas before, but nothing beats having a paper copy in your hand – or on your music stand.

Books like the Oxford Book of Carols, Faber Book of Carols and the Cambridge Carol-Book will always stand as reference books. Christmas Carols by Karl Schulte seems the most ubiquitous collection ever. The Usborne Book of Christmas Carols is good for people looking for easy piano arrangements.

Silent Night 2 is a little booklet from the Transalpine Redemptorists at Papa Stronsay. Inside are lyrics for many favourite Christmas carols reflecting something of the diversity of the monks. Available here.

But my favourite has to be A Collection of Christmas Carols. Benjamin Bloomfield has collected over 150 Christmas Carols into one book. They are all typed up with Lilypond and hosted with Github.

You can download the pdf.

You can buy a spiral bound copy through Lulu or a regular paperback through Amazon.

You can buy bulk quantities in paperback through Createspace with the wholesale discount.

All available at acollectionofchristmascarols.com.

The photo shows a paperback copy and a home printed and comb bound copy.

And if you’re thinking of buying a spiral bound copy through Lulu: Today through November 24, get 30% off all softcover books with code FLASH30 and 50% off all hardcover books with code HC50.

Remember Jeff’s list of Lulu books here.

I had a go at a list of my own favourites here (including educational and books for children).

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

About Veronica Brandt

Veronica Brandt holds a Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering. She lives near Sydney, Australia, with her husband and six children.—(Read full biography).

PDF • “Music List” (4th Sunday of Advent)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 21 December 2025, which is the 4th Sunday of Advent (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The ENTRANCE CHANT is the famous “Roráte Coeli” and the fauxbourdon setting of the COMMUNION is exquisite. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are available at the feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • Our Lady of Guadalupe (12 Dec.)

The Responsorial Psalm may be downloaded as a PDF file (organist & vocalist) for 12 December, which is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. When it comes to the formulary for this Mass, it’s astounding how infrequently it’s included in official books. Prior to Vatican II, one had to search through “supplemental material” printed in the back of hand-missals and graduals. But since 1970, the feast is virtually nonexistent. According to the UNIVERSAL KALENDAR, 12 December is the “Feast of Saint Jane Frances De Chantal, Religious” (Die 12 decembris: S. Ioannæ Franciscæ de Chantal, religiosæ). Why should that feast overpower Our Lady of Guadalupe? In the United States, OLG is celebrated—and I’d assume in Mexico, Central America, South America, and Canada—but, as I said, the Propria Missae are virtually impossible to locate. I possess only three books which mention this feast.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Simplified Accompaniment (Advent Hymn)

Many organists are forced to simultaneously serve as both CANTOR and ACCOMPANIST. In spite of what some claim, this can be difficult. I invite you to download this simplified organ accompaniment (PDF) which in the Father Brébeuf Hymnal is hymn #661: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” (for ADVENT). I’m toying with the idea of creating a whole bunch of these, to help amateur organists. The last one I uploaded was downloaded more than 2,900 times in a matter of hours—so there appears to be interest.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Santo Santo Santo”

Those searching for a dignified, brief, simple, bright setting of SANCTUS in Spanish (“Santo Santo Santo”) are invited to download this Setting in honor of Saint John Brébeuf (organist & vocalist). I wonder if there would be any interest in me recording a rehearsal video for this piece.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Leo XIV on Sacred Music

On 5 December 2025, Pope Leo XIV made this declaration with regard to liturgical music.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Translations Approved for Liturgical Use”

According to the newsletter for USSCB’s Committee on Divine Worship dated September 1996, there are three (3) translations of the Bible which can be used in the sacred liturgy in the United States. You can read this information with your own eyes. It seems the USCCB and also Rome fully approved the so-called NRSV (“New Revised Standard Version”) on 13 November 1991 and 6 April 1992 but this permission was then withdrawn in 1994.

—Corpus Christi Watershed